Coquille people facts for kids
The Coquille (pronounced KOH-kwel) are a group of Native American people. They traditionally lived along the Coquille River and the nearby coast in what is now southwestern Oregon. This area is just south of Coos Bay.
In 1855, the Coquille signed a treaty with the United States government. The next year, in 1856, many Coquille people were forced to move. They were relocated to the Siletz Reservation in northwestern Oregon. Today, many Coquille people are part of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. However, some Coquille ancestors stayed in their homeland or left the reservation. Their descendants now form the Coquille Indian Tribe. This tribe is based in southwest Oregon, near where the Coos River meets Coos Bay.
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What's in a Name?
The name "Coquille" comes from a native word. This word described the lamprey, a type of fish that was an important food for the tribe. Early European settlers tried to say the word, and it sounded like KOH-kwel to them.
Later, the name was spelled "Coquille," which is a French word for "shell." Over time, the pronunciation of the town and river changed to koh-KEEL. But the tribe's name kept its original, older pronunciation: KOH-kwel.
Languages of the Coquille
Historically, the Coquille people spoke two main languages. One was Miluk, which is part of the Coosan language family. The other was the Upper Coquille dialect of Lower Rogue River. This language belongs to the Pacific Coast Athabaskan language family.
After moving to the Siletz Reservation, many Coquille people started speaking Chinuk Wawa. This was a common language used by different tribes on the reservation in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Today, both the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians are working to bring their languages back. The Coquille Indian Tribe is focused on revitalizing Miluk and Upper Coquille Athabaskan. The Siletz tribe has a language program for Siletz Dee-ni. This is a version of the Oregon Athabaskan language, important to many Siletz communities.
A Look at Coquille History
People have lived in the Coquille watershed for a very long time. Evidence shows human activity in coastal areas dating back 8,000 years. In inland areas, people lived there as far back as 11,000 years ago. Fish traps found on the lower Coquille River are at least 1,000 years old.
The Coquille people were skilled at fishing. They used fishing weirs and basket traps in the tidewaters and estuaries along the Oregon coast. They also gathered shellfish. Their homes varied; some lived in lean-tos made from cedar planks. Others built homes with wood-frame poles, covered with sod or grass reeds.
By the time Europeans arrived, the Coquille had created a large network of trails and canoe routes. These paths connected different parts of their territory. The first known contact by Europeans was in 1826 with Alexander Roderick McLeod of the North West Company.
Life After the 1855 Treaty
After signing the treaty in 1855, the Coquille people faced big changes. They were forced to leave their ancestral lands. They had to move to the Coastal Indian Reservation, which is now known as the Siletz Reservation.
Today, Coquille people are part of two main tribal groups. They are either members of the Coquille Indian Tribe or the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Both groups work to preserve their culture, history, and traditions.
